Expression of integrins in squamous cell carcinoma of the oral cavity - Correlations with tumor invasion and metastasis

Integrins are cell adhesion molecules that mediate the cell to extracellula r matrix interactions. We sought to determine whether the integrin expressi on on turner cells is associated with invasive and metastatic potential. Fi rst, in 8 cell lines of oral squamous cell carcinoma, 4 of which were metas tatic in nude mice and 4 of which were not, integrin expression was examine d. When these cell lines were cultured in vitro or transplanted into the to ngues of nude mice, the metastatic cell lines tended to show a stronger exp ression of alpha(2), alpha(3), alpha(5), and alpha(6) integrins than did th e nonmetastatic cell lines. Second, integrin expression was immunohistochem ically examined in 65 biopsy specimens of primary oral squamous cell carcin oma. In invasive or metastatic cases, a marked expression of alpha(2), alph a(3), alpha(5) and alpha(6) integrins was frequently observed. The associat ion of integrin expression with the mode of tumor invasion and nodal involv ement was found to be statistically significant. These results suggest that integrin expression is closely associated with tumor invasion and nodal in volvement in Oral squamous cell carcinoma.